RALEIGH, N.C.  – North Carolina legislators stung by the last-minute loss of a Miley Cyrus movie took the first step toward sweetening the state’s tax incentives to attract film and television productions.

The state Senate’s Finance Committee on Wednesday approved legislation to raise the income tax break for production companies from 15 percent to 25 percent. The measure now moves to the full Senate as lawmakers are in late-stage talks on cutting spending and raising taxes to produce a balanced budget for the year beginning in July.

Republican opponents of the expanded tax break said the timing is wrong since teachers will be laid off and other important services cut. Supporters said it will attract new productions and create jobs.